Grilles off for me. Besides the asthetics and badass Anniversary logo, it gives the 40.2a 0.5db boost from the tweeter which I need. Zero impact on bass driver.
Anyone Using Harbeths with Grilles off?
Curious whether anyone prefers their Harbeths this way. I would imagine it's room dependent-- they are obviously voiced with grilles on but if your room is unusual (like mine is) maybe they sound better this way. The highs are getting eaten up by furniture and old ears and a strange loft type room at my place so it's working here.
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I prefer the way they look without the grills on. I keep them off my P3ESR but have left them on my Super HL5 Plus for the most part, mainly because they are in a high traffic area. I know they don't offer a lot of protection against an accidental scratch or other incidental damage, but... If you need something to take the grills off, try these: https://www.ebay.com/p/2254577669?iid=221860340237 |
Oooh. That's a nice solution. I've been doing the paperclip method where I use a pair of need nose pliers to bend about 1/4" of a paperclip and then insert, turn and pull. I feel like I'm going to tear the grille at some point. Doesn't matter much now because my system is set after a bunch of covid changes and the newest incarnation definitely sounds better with the grilles off and nothing is changing anytime soon. |
I always listen with the grilles on (40.2A). I have tried them with grilles off and preferred the grilles on. They sound great either way, but to my ears they sound better balanced with them on. There is a slight increase in the highs and mids with them off. Many folks might prefer this sound, but to me it is fatiguing over longer listening sessions. I'm 56 years old and as I've gotten older I find certain high frequencies cause fatigue more than when I was young. There is no question that they look a lot cooler with them off. Sometimes I have to take them off just to remember how beautiful they are. But visual distraction is not ideal for listening. It's like a beautiful girl in church. Hard to hear the message while being distracted by the view. ;) |
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